Marselan is a relatively modern variety of grape that was originally conceived in France around 1961. This unique grape was created as a cross-breed between the illustrious Cabernet Sauvignon and Grenache grapes, aiming to combine the robustness and quality of the former with the high yield of the latter. Named after the town in South France close to where it was first developed, Marselan has burst into the limelight due to its distinctive character and taste profile.
Often referred to as a 'best of both worlds' grape type, Marselan produces a deep, richly coloured red wine with abundant aromatic potential. The taste is often a sublime blend of the Cabernet Sauvignon's dark fruit flavours with a hint of Grenache's sweetness. Yet, it also has its unique characteristics with subtle spicy notes and velvety texture. These qualities make Marselan wines increasingly popular with those who value complexity and sophistication in their reds.
Marselan grape has found success outside its original home in France as well. It thrives in a wide array of climates, but it performs particularly well in warm environments, allowing it to be successfully cultivated around the world, notably in Spain, China, Israel and Brazil, with each country imparting their unique terroir elements upon the final wine it produces. However, Marselan is still a rarity in many parts of the world because of its low-yielding nature, which makes it less appealing to mass wine producers.
In summary, Marselan is a captivating grape that offers a unique blend of flavours to wine enthusiasts. It presents a profusion of dark fruit flavours, combined with nuances of spice and a smooth texture which makes it an excellent choice for those interested in something a bit different from the usual red wine grape varieties. Despite being less common due to its less lucrative yield, its growing popularity in recent years marks it as a grape variety to watch.
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